Sell Books on Amazon: A Beginner’s Guide
Step 1: Set Up Your Amazon Seller Account
Choose Your Selling Plan
Amazon offers two primary selling plans: Individual and Professional. The Individual plan is suitable if you plan to sell fewer than 40 items per month, as it charges a $0.99 fee per item sold. The Professional plan costs $39.99 per month but waives the per-item fee, making it more cost-effective for higher sales volumes. Consider your anticipated sales volume before making a decision. You can upgrade or downgrade your plan at any time through your Seller Central account settings.
Register Your Account Details
Navigate to sellercentral.amazon.com and click “Sign up.” You will need to provide a valid business email address, a password, and agree to Amazon’s terms and conditions. Prepare to provide the following information during registration: a legally registered business name and address (or your personal name and address if selling as an individual), a contact phone number, an internationally chargeable credit card, and bank account information for receiving payments. Amazon will verify your identity and payment methods, which may take a few days.
Step 2: Prepare Your Book for Listing
Determine Your Book’s Condition
Accurately assessing your book’s condition is crucial for customer satisfaction and avoiding returns. Amazon uses specific condition guidelines: New, Used – Like New, Used – Very Good, Used – Good, and Used – Acceptable. For “New,” the book must be unread and in perfect, pristine condition. For “Used – Like New,” it should show no noticeable wear. “Used – Very Good” implies minor wear but no significant flaws. “Used – Good” means average wear but fully readable. “Used – Acceptable” indicates significant wear, but the text is complete. Be honest and err on the side of caution; it’s better to under-promise and over-deliver.
Gather Essential Book Information
Before creating your listing, collect all necessary details about your book. This includes the 10-digit ISBN (International Standard Book Number) or 13-digit ISBN-13, which is usually found on the back cover near the barcode or on the copyright page. Also, note the book’s title, author, publisher, publication date, edition (if applicable), and binding type (hardcover, paperback, spiral-bound). Having this information readily available will streamline the listing process and ensure accuracy.
Step 3: Create Your Book Listing
Search for Existing ISBNs
Log in to your Amazon Seller Central account. In the search bar at the top, type the ISBN of your book and press Enter. If the book already exists in Amazon’s catalog (which most published books do), you will see a product page. Click “Sell yours” on that page. This method auto-populates many details, saving you time and reducing errors. If the ISBN doesn’t yield a result (rare for standard books, more common for self-published or very old titles), you’ll need to create a new product listing from scratch by navigating to “Inventory” -> “Add a Product” and then selecting “I’m adding a product not sold on Amazon.”
Enter Your Book’s Details and Price
Once you’ve found the existing listing or started a new one, you’ll be prompted to enter specific details. Select the condition you determined earlier (e.g., “Used – Very Good”). In the “Condition Note” field, provide a brief, honest description of any flaws or unique characteristics (e.g., “Minor shelf wear on dust jacket, otherwise clean pages” or “Previous owner’s name inscribed on first page”). Set your selling price, considering the book’s condition, the prices of similar listings from other sellers, and Amazon’s fees. You can use Amazon’s “Buy Box” price or competitor pricing as a benchmark. Finally, enter the quantity of the book you have available and select your fulfillment method (FBA or FBM – Fulfilled by Amazon or Fulfilled by Merchant).
Step 4: Pack and Ship Your Book
Package Your Book Securely
Proper packaging is crucial to prevent damage during transit. For most books, a sturdy bubble mailer or a corrugated cardboard box is recommended. If using a bubble mailer, ensure the book fits snugly to prevent shifting. For valuable or heavier books, wrap the book in bubble wrap or a layer of cardboard before placing it in a box with additional packing material (like crumpled paper or packing peanuts) to prevent movement. Seal all seams of the package securely with strong packing tape. Consider adding a “Do Not Bend” sticker for smaller, thinner books, though robust packaging is always the primary defense.
Choose Your Shipping Method
If you are fulfilling orders yourself (FBM), you will need to purchase shipping. Amazon provides shipping label services directly through Seller Central, often at discounted rates. Compare these rates with those from major carriers like USPS, FedEx, or UPS. For most standard books, USPS Media Mail is the most cost-effective option, specifically designed for books and other educational materials. However, Media Mail can be slower. If a customer pays for expedited shipping, you’ll need to select a faster service like USPS Priority Mail or a comparable service from another carrier. Print your shipping label, affix it to your package, and drop it off at the chosen carrier’s location.
FAQs
Q: How do Amazon’s fees work for books?
A: Amazon charges a referral fee (a percentage of the selling price, typically 15% for books) and a variable closing fee ($1.80 for media items). If you’re on the Individual plan, there’s an additional $0.99 per-item fee. These fees are deducted from your sale before payment is disbursed to you.
Q: Can I sell books without an ISBN?
A: Yes, very old books published before ISBNs were standard (pre-1970s) or certain self-published titles might not have one. In such cases, you will need to create a new product listing on Amazon and provide all the book’s details manually, including title, author, publisher, and publication year.
Q: What is the difference between FBA and FBM?
A: FBA (Fulfillment by Amazon) means you send your books to an Amazon warehouse, and they handle storage, picking, packing, shipping, customer service, and returns. FBM (Fulfilled by Merchant) means you store your books and handle all aspects of shipping and customer service yourself once an order is placed.
Q: How do I handle returns or customer inquiries?
A: If you’re FBM, you are responsible for handling customer service and returns directly through the Buyer-Seller Messaging service in Seller Central. Adhere to Amazon’s return policies. If you’re FBA, Amazon handles most customer service and returns on your behalf, reducing your workload.
